Exercising machines



` Feb. 9 1960 -H. .1. MILLER 2,924,456

EXERCISING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 195'? INVENTOR.

Harold J. Miller TJJJ United States Patent TC l"EXERGISING lMACHINES Harold J MillerySan Francisco, Calif., lassigner to Harold llLMiller and fAthurH.v Connolly, Jr.,v both of San `Frn'cis'co,Calif., executors `ofthe estate of Pearl 1B.

Be`ll,' deceased "This invention relates `to new and usefulimprovements in exer'csingmachines andparticularly relateslto improvementsin the exercisingfmachine 4described in U`.S."Patent' Nof`2,642,2f88 oflune 16, 1953.

A lparticular di'ic'u'lty with the iexercisingmachine descibed in 'the yabove identified patent was, that when not in `vuse, the machine presented a semi-collapsed appearance, the seat being substantiallyV lower` thannormal seating position and with the pedals in l.a lrelatively raised position. As a-result ofthe position and the relation of the'said parts, mounting or ,getting on the-machine and also dismounting "was rendered awkward and diicult.

' A particular object of the instant invention is to pro vide a stop'or braking means to hold releasablythe exercising machine in uprightposition with the seat 'at -substantiallyunormal seating position and the` pedals -in relatively? lowered positionlto facilitate mounting and `dismounting.

"Another object of the invention is to provide a handhold means adjacent the seat to further facilitatemounting anddismounting and alsoto. provide a means for yaccomplishing'an additional exercise on the machine.

lThe above andothcr objects of the instant invention will 'be-appreciated upon a reading of the following Writtendescriptionl and an understanding of the accompanyin'g'drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment` of the'prese'nt invention and wherein:

*Figfl'is a'sde velevation of an exercising machine employ'ing' one embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an exercising machine illustrating the position .of the machine when not in use and wherein the locking means has been released;

Fig. 3 is a1partial'sidefelevation partly-'broken away in cross-section to illustrate the stop or-braking means;

"Fig-4 is' a bottom plan view of the seat; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine to show the employment of the stop or braking means.

The exercising machine comprises essentially a frame or base 12 at the forward end of which is secured a stanchion or post 13; a handle 14 is pivoted at a point intermediate the handle to the top of the post for pivotal movement relative to the latter; a forwardly projecting extension 15 projects from the top of the post and supports pedal supporting members 17 pivoted to the extension and depending therefrom and having pedals 18 secured to the members; an arm 19 is pivoted at one end adjacent the junction of frame 12 and post 13; a seat 20 is secured to the arm; an inclined track 22 is mounted on frame 12; a brace 23 is pivoted at one end to arm 19 and is provided with a wheel 24 at its other end which rides on track 22; and a common link 25 pivotally connects handle 14, pedal -supports 17, and brace 23 respectively at 27, 28 and 29.

In operation, the user of the machine straddles seat 20 placing his feet on the upper or lower set of pedals indicated at 18 depending upon his preference. The machine is operated by alternately forcing handle 14 ICC forward which causes pedal support `17 'to pivot rearwardly forcing wheel 24 rearwardly and accordinglyv lowering seat .20. Conversely,` pushing forward on pedals `18, pivots the pedal support forward, handle.14"moves"rearwardly, and wheel`-24 travelsforward and accordingly raises seat 20. K

The machine in function and structure is describedin U.S. yPatentl No. 2,642,288. g

.As particularly illustrated inFig. 2, the machine when notbeing used is in a semi-collapsedpositionfthe seat being lowered, -the pedals raised, and :the handle extending forward. This, position, as hereinbefoi-eobserved, renders themachine awkward formounting and`di's`mounting, yand it is the obviationf th'is undesirable feature which is a particular object of lthefr'are'seiit invention.

To remedy this condition, a meansfonreleasably se curingthe vmachine with thefse'at at .a substantially'normalvseating position andpedals in arelatively'` lowered position, `as .indicated generally at`A, and handholdtneans B arelprovided. l Y l With reference to Fig.5 it will be noted, post`13comprises two upright tubular memberswith handle 14 disposedbetweenfthem. Similarly,- forwardlypr'ojecting extension'lS comprises two tubular members joinedbyfa brace vor Vstoplimiting forward pivtedm'ovemnt `f the handle. Y A v Thepivoted connection of handle'14 to'post 13 'isindicated at 31 (Fig. 3) and it will be'note'd pivotal connection 31 is slightly below brace 30.

AAs appearsv in`Fig. 3 atubular -member or kpipe"32 is secured as by weldingtothe front offhandle 14 above forwardly projecting extensionsY 15. `A pair of co1la`rs'33 and 34, disposed interiorly of pipe 32 receive a shaft or stem 37 through their apertures. Collar-33 is secured as by welding to stem 35 and -slidable relative to pipe 32. Collar 34 is secured as by welding to the interior surface of pipe 32 and stern 35 is slidable Athrough the aperture in collar 34. Anhelical compression spring 37 encasing stem 35 within pipe `32 and disposed between collars 33 and 34 normally urges the collars away from ea'ch other, and aperturedcap'38 receiving stem35 slidably through its aperture is secured as by welding over the top of. pipe 32 to act as a thrust-bearing limiting upward movement of collar 33 and stem 35.

The top ofl handle 14 is notched or' provided with a detent39 to receive a pin 40 which passes through stem 35. at a` point abovecap'f38. The bottom orlower end of stem'35-is provided with a spacin-g member' or stop 42 andhbrace or stop 30"has been provided on its rearward face with av boss "43 to cooperate with stop A42 as hereinafter set forth. A knob 44 is secured to the top `of stem 35 to facilitate operation of stop means A.

With stop means A in operable position the machine normally appears as in Fig. l. In this position the machine may easily be mounted.

The operator having mounted the machine pivots handle 14 rearwardly. Retraction of handle 14 spaces stop 42 from boss 43; a simple twist of knob 44 releases pin 40 from detent 39, spring 37 forces stem 35 and stop 42 upwardly clear of boss 43 and brace or stop 30, and the machine may now be used.

When the operator desires to dismount, handle i14 is again retracted. Stem 35 is forced downwardly and rotated to engage pin 40 in detent 39. Handle 40 is permitted to return to an upright position at which point stop 42 abuts boss 43 arresting further movement of the machine and the operator may now easily dismount.

To further facilitate mounting and dismounting the exercising machine, the seat has been made adjustable relative to the pedals and is provided with hand-hold means B to assist the operator straddling the machine.

As appears in Fig. 4, arm 19 is composed of a pair of rearwardlyextending tubular members spaced parallel and proximate each other; a bolt 45 secured to the bottom of seat 20 and depending therefrom passes through the spacing between arms 19 and a washer 47 circumj scribing bolt 45, bridges thetwo tubular members 19 and serves as a thrust-bearingfor wing nut 48. Retrograde-threading of the wing nut loosens the seat which may be moved relatively forward orrrearwardly in a well-known -manner to accommodate the particular operator.

Hand-hold means B comprises a rod deformed to deline four sides of a hexagon. The' ends 49 of the rod are turned coaxially inwardly, and inwardly extending supporting members or braces 50 are secured as by welding to the apices of hand-hold means B adjacent ends 49. Brackets 52 secure ends 49 and supporting members 50 to the undersurface of seat 20 whereby rod B defines a deformed semicircle around the rear of seat 2.0 for convenient grasping and support of the operator 1n mounting and dismounting or straddling seat 20.

The hand-hold also provides a means for accomplishing additional exercises to work or exercise additional muscles and for variety in operating the machine. In utilization of the hand-hold the seated operator releases handle 14 and grasps hand-hold B. In this position pumping of the machine is effected solely by the legs concentrating the benefit of the exercise in this portion of the body. Additional and varied exercise while grasping hand-hold B is possibleA if the operator leans back, arching his back with his head substantially subtendlng seat 20 as the strength of the particular operator will permit.

Although the invention has been described in some detail for purposes of illustration it will be understood various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an exercising machine including a frame, a post secured to said frame, a seat pivotally mounted over said frame, a handle pivoted to said post, a pedal support pivoted to said post, and a common link pivotally connecting said seat, handle and pedal support, the improvement comprising first stop means secured to said post to limit pivotal movement of said handle in one direction and second stop means -secured to said handle removably insertable between said iirst stop means and said handle to further limit pivotal movement of said handle.

2. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said first stop means are spaced forward of said handle, and said second stop means includesa spring-biased shaft normally urged from interposition between said rst stop means and said handle, and means releas'ably maintaining said second stop means between said first stop means and said handle.

3. A device according to claim l wherein said rst stop means comprises a brace secured to said post forward of said handle to determine maximum forward pivotal movement of the latter,and lwherein said second stop means includes a spring-biased shaft moveable to a position disposed Ybetween said lirst stop means and said handle, a pin extendingv from said shaft and releasably engageable with said handle to maintain said shaft in said last mentioned position, said shaft being manually rotatable to'release said pin from said handle and said spring operable to bias said shaft from interposition `between said lirst stopY means and said handle.

4. In an exercising machine including a frame, a post secured to said frame, a seat pivotally mounted over said frame and manually adjustable relatively toward and away from said post, a handle pivoted to said post, a pedal support pivoted'to said post, and a common link pivotally connecting said seat, handle and pedal support, the improvement to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the machine comprising rst stop means securedto sald post forward of said handle to limit forward pivotal movement of theA latter, and means moveable from a position between said lirst stop means and said handle to further limit forward movement of the latterto a position clear of said rst stop means and said handle.`

5.4 An exercising machine including a' frame, a stanchion secured to said frame. adjacent the forward end of the latter, a handle pivoted to said stanchion at a point intermediate said handle, a seat pivoted to said frame for relative up and kdown movement, a pedal support pivoted to said stanchion and depending therefrom, an inclined track secured to said frame, a brace pivoted at one end to said .seat and depending therefrom, the other end of said brace rideable upon said track, a commonv link pivotally connecting said handle, pedal lsup port, and brace, a transverse member secured to said stanchion to fix maximum forward pivotal movement of said handle, spacing means insertable between said transverse member and said handle to further limit pivotal movement of said handle, aspring normally biasing said spacing means from interposition between said transverse member and said handle, and locking means releasably securingv said spacing means in the first mentioned position.

2,642,288 vBell June 16, 1953 

